Will Cory Booker endorse Loretta Weinberg for LG?

Cory Booker's political calculation....... (0.00 / 0)

he knows that Weinberg would not run in 2013, clearing the field for himself without having to deal with a statewide elected official (i.e. Barbara Buono). Additionally, he locks down progressive support Statewide and a large bloc of voters in Bergen County.  So now he presumably has Hudson (very close to HCDO Chair and JC Mayor Jerramiah Healy), Essex, and potentially Bergen.  Who could win a Democratic primary in New Jersey without those 3 counties?  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 09:03:47 AM CDT

Do they really think Donovan can deliver votes in Bergen County?? (0.00 / 0)

Maybe I'm too strong in my opinion, but is the NJ GOP that stupid?  The reason I voted for the other County Clerk candidate (that being the Democrat) is because I never vote for any Republican.  It's important to have someone on your side who's counting the votes as they say.

But most people aren't as politically in tune as us and largely see a County Clerk as a non-partisan position (which it's supposed to be, but still it's good to have that person on your side).  Since voters perceive it as non-partisan, the incumbent has an even stronger advantage over a challenger.

I don't really see the draw to get votes in Bergen with Donovan, and I live there.

"Give me a lever long enough... and I shall move the world." - Archimedes

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by: mconvente @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 10:03:17 AM CDT

She's got political inertia (0.00 / 0)

They see the name over and over, she doesn't have any negatives, and lately County Dem margins haven't been as impressive, so they haven't been able to topple her.

It might be a mistake to think any bottom ticket can 'pull' votes.  The amount of votes actually earned just from having her might be in the thousands.  

A smart campagin would think of this as a headline grabber and a person to pull crowds at rallies and the like - and outside of BC, it will be 'Who is Kathleen Donovan?'

But then again, I don't want to give the GOP advice.  I wouldn't know who else they have.
 

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 09:01:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

a welcome change (0.00 / 0)

It would certainly be a welcome change for Mr. Booker to endorse a Democrat for a change.

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by: brettski55 @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 10:03:56 AM CDT

In his defense.... (0.00 / 0)

Mike Bloomberg was a Democrat most of his life.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 10:38:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

i personally hate "balanced" tickets (0.00 / 0)

The thought of putting someone in the LG spot because of race or gender is disguisting to me.  I want someone -- in both tickets -- who is there because of their qualifications for the office.  If the most qualified person is female or black or hispanic great.  But please don't find the "best qualified minority". Promoting someone because of race or gender is just as horrorific as denying.

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by: AreYouWithMe? @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 10:13:10 AM CDT

You sound like Rush and Newt..... (4.00 / 2)

I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone in New Jersey more qualified to be LG (or Governor for that matter) than Senator Loretta Weinberg.  

It isn't about choosing a LG because they are male or female, but it is nice to open doors for groups of people that haven't had those opportunities in the past.  White males (even though I am one) don't know everything and perceive things differently than a women or minority, and in my opinion it is always good to have varying opinions in the room when formulating any kind of policy.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 10:38:01 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hey, AreYouWithMe - (0.00 / 0)

Do you presume Weinberg is merely a demographic choice?

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 11:13:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Loretta is a leader (0.00 / 0)

 and is willing to step forward and occasionally take some heat while trying to do the right thing.

Nj could do way worse....

Check out my 3 paragraph primer on Polywell Fusion.

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by: FogerRox @ Tue Jun 09, 2009 at 21:04:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

10 points down and Weinberg? (0.00 / 0)

Sorry, I just don't get it. I thought the idea was for Corzine to get reelected?

She might be a nice person with get ideals but what does she add to the ticket that is not already there?

Did you see that Corzine is even losing the women vote in the poll today? From a political standpoint I think Buono helps a lot more than Weinberg.

Corzine needs some " juice" . He is getting killed with the Independent voters looking at him as " same old , same old". In my opinion Weinberg adds nothing to the ticket and will not help with Independents. The only activists she will ' light up" are the same people who will be " lit up" anyway.

Corzine better wake up and see that the same change that got Obama elected is what is directing this election. No one except the already faithful will be excited about Weinberg.

This is not about ideology , it is about winning.

Also, since when did Cory Booker become relevant in state wide elections?

Corzine better start listening to his political people and not the dreamers or he is going to lose this election.
 

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by: firstamend07 @ Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 04:05:02 AM CDT

Bergen County is the key to Statewide elections.... (0.00 / 0)

every since Democrats became dominant in Bergen County we have dominated Statewide elections, Corzine can't win without a majority there.  

Cory Booker became relevant in Statewide elections when he became the African-American leader of the NJ Democratic Party and was elected Mayor of the largest city in the State.  There are probably more voters in Essex County then in all of South Jersey.  

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by: Matthew Jordan @ Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 07:06:30 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

He couldn't make a better choice for strategy or good gov. (0.00 / 0)

Keep in mind this is the 1st LG in NJ hsitory - this person will set the expecations for the future.   Put a bad person in there and the job will become a nonsense one.  Put a star in there like Loretta and the job will be a useful part of state government.

Loretta would actually deal with BOTH the strategic politics and the good government that Corzine needs.

Corzine needs Bergen County. as any Dem does.  That's the easy part.  But that puts Corzine in a bit of a fix.  If he takes his business to the BDCO to 'deliver' Bergen for him, he has a problem: unfortunately for Bergen Dems, the entity is tainted at this point with a strong association with pay to play, donations for jobs and pensions,  and interference with town governments.  The last part is now the subject of an indictment of the former chair.

Now, if the new chair Kasparian had come out swinging against the old machine, Corzine might have been helped in Bergen.   That didn't happen, in my view and in the view of most Bergen Dem progressives.    He made his ethics training optional, and he refused to help the two Bergenfield incumbents being punished by the indicted municipal chair.  They didn't need him; Bergenfield voters picked the incumbents and for 3 times in 4 primaries the key Bergen County Democratic town of Bergenfield rejected the county party.

So there is only one key to Bergen now - go with Loretta Weinberg.   And with Senator Weinberg's state-wide reputation (deserved) for taking on entrenched top down political machines, she would be a great one to parry any attack from Christie.

But that's the political strategic mumbo jumbo.  Loretta Weinberg would make a great partner in govenrment, and it would be good to see the author of the Party Democracy Act pushing that agenda in a higher profile position.  

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by: CouncilmanBruceCarlson @ Wed Jun 10, 2009 at 08:55:43 AM CDT